Pinot Noir Las Pizarras, Viña Errazuriz 2017

I love the aromas of smoked meat, dried strawberries and spices. Some resin and pine needle undertones. Full body, layered and rich with plenty of fruit and linear tannins that run through the middle of the wine. Juicy and refined. Purity and greatness. Drink or hold on release.

As with the Chardonnay, the 2017 Aconcagua Costa "Las Pizarras" Pinot Noir is also fresher and sharper than the 2016 I tasted next to it, despite the year being somewhat warmer. They used 20% full clusters for the fermentation in open tanks. The élevage was in 35% new French oak barrels and lasted some 14 months. This feels very young and fruit-driven, open, aromatic, exuberant and, in a way, less mineral than the 2016. Perhaps it's only a matter of age, but this doesn't seem to have the same level of complexity and depth. I see this more in line with 2015. 10,000 bottles were filled in May 2018.

At this young stage we would recommend decanting this wine for at least 90 minutes before drinking as it is so tightly wound. With air, this shows beautiful purity of red fruit and hints of black cherries. There are layers of savoury spices that pair nicely with a hint of reduction to leave a smoky impression on the nose. The palate is pure silky, with perfectly refined tannins providing a seamless structure for the intense fruit at the core. There is floral lift with violets and cherry blossom, paired with a subtle spiciness of nutmeg and clove. Still taut and linear, this is all about precision and vibrancy in its youth. This is an extremely promising wine that should improve greatly with time in bottle. The stand out Pinot Noir coming from South America.